The 2006 Emmys Swag Lounge Was Out of Control

One of the best parts about being a celebrity must be all of the free stuff. Sure, you get international recognition and admiration for your work and can afford to buy whatever your heart desires, but the kicker is...you often don’t have to. Especially around awards season every year, when swag lounges are erected and big stars get to blow in, sweep up the latest products for free, and bounce. Brands happily supply these megawatt personalities with the goods in the hopes of their products being photographed or seen with famous people. But in the early days of swag tents, the arrangement was a little, let’s say, different; organizers really wilded out and allowed photographers inside, documenting the whole hoarding process. And as we get closer to this year’s Emmys celebration, it’s interesting to note that the 2006 Emmys was particularly one hell of a wild ride. Join us, won’t you?

Now, the early aughts were a simpler time. To set the scene, shows like Heroes and Jericho were the buzziest du jour. Crashwon the Oscar for best picture that year, causing a major upset. Justin Timberlake even brought sexy back with his record, FutureSex/LoveSounds. It also seemed like a time when celebrities didn’t mind being snapped getting their freebie on. (Nowadays, it’s rare to spot A-listers inside a swag tent—and we can assume they’d really rather not be seen there.) Below, see some forgotten gems from 2006. They’re heavy on the cheese factor, or call it campy—not only did the hot celebs of the moment pose with their new acquisitions, they also totally hammed it up for the photographers, striking their best poses as they luxuriated in free pedicures or facial treatments. Honestly, I’d crack a smile, too.

Among the highlights: Oscar-winning actor Allison Janney picking herself up a jar of something called “Spread,” dubbed “nouveau comfort food.” Olivia Munn also got the food memo, too, snagging herself a Magic Bullet blender, the It home item of the time. Actor Jack Wagner was busy, meanwhile, applying a new moisturizer right on the spot (and you know it’s fancy, because it comes with one of those unnecessary tiny spatulas). There were plenty of fashion items to pick up in 2006, too—Von Dutch hats, anyone? Comedian Kathy Griffin can be seen caressing a tray of precious jewels; Elijah Wood snagged himself a leather purse (for himself or for a friend, nobody knows); Vanessa Hudgens even went the extra mile and got her ears pierced for a new pair of dangly earrings. That’s devotion to swag! See all these standout moments and more below.

Photo: Getty Images

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Nicholas Gonzalez

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Allison Janney

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Vanessa Hudgens

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Hayden Panettiere

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Kathy Griffin

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Kelly Monaco

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Jack Wagner

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Susan Lucci

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Elijah Wood

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Jon Abrahams (left)

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Olivia Munn

Photo: Getty Images

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Niecy Nash

Photo: Getty Images

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Lindsey Shaw

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Adrienne Lau

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